SCHOOL BOARD PROCEEDINGS

The Avoyelles Parish School Board met in regular session Tuesday, February 5, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. at the School Board Office wjth the following members present:

Michael Lacombe, President; Darrell Wiley, Vice-President;  Freeman Ford, Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., James Gauthier, Shelia Blackman-Dupas, Lizzie Ned, Van Kojis, and Cynthia "Cindy" Hill.

Absent: None.

An Invocation was offered by Board Member Lizzie Ned.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America led by Board Member Freeman Ford.

l.       A motion was offered  by Van Kojis, seconded by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., to adopt the minutes of the special Board meeting held Thursday, January 24, 2013, as printed and mailed to Board members and published in The Weekly News, official journal of the Board.

The motion was adopted by the following vote:

2         Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine recognized the Students of the Month.  Mr. Lemoine presented a plaque to each student.  Also, each Board Member read a short biography detailing the accomplishments of each student.

The Students of the Month included: Toni Locks, Bunkie Elementary School; Lydia Mose, Cottonport Elementary School; Lauren Short, Lafargue Elementary School; Brittlynn Sayer, Marksville Elementary School; Luke Scallan, Plaucheville Elementary School;Alyssa Gremillion, Riverside Elementary School; Brianna Gipson, Avoyelles High School; Jenna Chagnard, Bunkie High School; Mariah Moton, LaSAS; and Jasmine Tassin, Marksville High School.

On behalf of the Board, President Michael Lacombe commended the students on their accomplishments.

3.         Mrs. Irma Andress, Director of Federal Programs, recognized the 2012-2013 Students of the Year, as follows:

Fifth Grade Students of the Year:

Bunkie Elementary Learning Academy, Williams Scharpon, Jr.; Brendon Smith, Cottonport Elementary School; Cameron Nicholas, Lafargue Elementary School; Brianna White, Marksville Elementary School; Jenson Gremillion, Plaucheville Elementary School; and Jiri Woods, Riverside Elementary School.

Eighth Grade Students of the Year:

Avoyelles High School, Brianna Gipson; Bunkie High  School, Allisa  Bonaventure; LaSAS, Roark Gaspard; and Marksville High School, Nehemayeaux Smith.

Twelfth Grade Students of the Year:

Avoyelles High School, Kalen Hicks; Bunkie High School, Vanity Hayward; LaSAS, Gabriella Lemoine; and Marksville High School, Joshua Wright.

District Winners:

Fifth Grade:  Jensen Gremillion, Plaucheville Elementary School

Eighth Grade:  Roark Gaspard, LaSAS

Twelfth Grade:  Kalen Hicks, Avoyelles High School

4.         Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine recognized Ms. Ginger Gremillion and Ms. Cheraka Montalvo, fourth grade teachers at Riverside Elementary School. These teachers each received a QSM Grant, $670 for Ms. Gremillion and $305 for Ms. Montalvo.  Mr. Lemoine stated that these funds were used to purchase supplies and teaching aids for their classes.

5.     On behalf of the Board, President Michael Lacombe presented a plaque to Mr. Charlie Wiley of Migues Deloach Construction Company in appreciation of his assistance and support in initiating and coordinating the donation of the metal building which will be placed at Avoyelles High School.

6.          Mrs. Aloysia Ducote, Certified Public Accountant with Ducote and Company, presented a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.  Ms. Ducote stated that their firm issued an unqualified opinion for fiscal year audit 2011-2012, and she noted no material instances of non-compliance with government auditing standards.

Mrs. Ducote commended the Board as well as the staff for maintaining sound fiscal management practices.

Upon motion by Freeman Ford, seconded by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., the Board accepted the annual fiscal year audit as presented by Mrs. Aloysia Ducote.     MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

7.          President Michael Lacombe announced that there will be a status hearing in the court of Federal Judge Dee Drell on Thursday, February 28, 2013.   Also, a special meeting of the Avoyelles Parish School Board will be held on Monday, March 4, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss pending litigation regarding access to Section 16 property.  The regular School Board meeting for March will also take place at that time; therefore, there will be no meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.

8.           Mr. Wilfred Ducote, Transportation Supervisor, presented a transportation data report for the month of January, 2013.

9.       On motion by Freeman Ford, seconded by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., the Board granted permission to advertise for janitorial supplies, paint, light bulbs, and air conditioner filters for the 2013-2014 school year.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

            I 0.         President Michael Lacombe presented a resolution regarding School Board Member Training for the Board's consideration, as follows:

School Board Member Training Resolution

WHEREAS, each member of a city and parish school board shall receive a minimum of six hours of training and instruction as required by ACT 380, and

WHEREAS, this training and instruction shall consist of school laws of this state,  laws governing the powers, duties, and responsibilities of city and parish school boards, educational trends, research and policy, and

WHEREAS, such instruction may be received from an institution of higher education in this state, from instruction sponsored  by the State Department of Education, or by an in-service training program conducted by a city or parish school board central office or the Louisiana School Boards Association,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that it become public record that Freeman Ford, Darrell Wiley, Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., James Gauthier, Shelia Blackman-Dupas, Lizzie Ned, Michael Lacombe, Van Kojis, and Cynthia "Cindy" Hill, members of the Avoyelles Parish School Board, have successfully completed in excess of four (4) hours of required training as mandated by the Legislature of Louisiana.

On motion by Freeman Ford, seconded by Carlos A. Mayeux, Jr., the Board adopted the aforementioned resolution regarding School Board Member training.     MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

11.       Superintendent Dwayne Lemoine presented personnel changes for the Board's review, as follows:

PERSONNEL CHANGES

BUNKIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Sylvia Calhoun-Daniel, speech-language pathologist, effective January 18, 2013; and appointment of Marquis Hawkins, bus driver, effective January 7, 2013, replacing Debra Desselle

LAFARGUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:  Resignation of Christine George, teacher, effective May 23, 2013, for the purpose of retirement; and resignation of Mary L. Ford, paraprofessional, effective May 23, 2013 for the purpose of retirement.

MARKSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Jeanie D. Akridge, speech/language pathologist, effective at the end of the day January 31, 2013; and appointment of Linda Gagnard, bus driver, effective January 7, 2013, replacing lrby Seiss who retired.

PLAUCHEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Resignation of Charlene Kelone, teacher, effective at the end of the day March 22, 2013, for the purpose of retirement.

AVOYELLES IDGH SCHOOL: Re-appointment of Valerie Chesne, teacher, effective February 1, 2013 through February 28, 2013; resignation of Jane S. Nickerson, teacher, effective January 17, 2013, for the purpose of retirement; and resignation of Carolyn Johnson, paraprofessional, effective at the end of the day January 18, 2013.

BUNKIE HIGH SCHOOL:  Re-appointment of Sarah M. Abbott, teacher, effective February 1, 2013 through February 28, 2013.

LOUISIANA SCHOOL FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES: Resignation of Angie Normand, teacher, effective January 14, 2013,for the purpose of retirement; correction in date of resignation: Resignation of Sarah Dean Townsend, teacher, effective at the end of the day January 6, 2013 instead of January 8, 2013; and resignation of Mary M. Villemarette, food service manager, effective March 31, 2013, for the purpose of retirement.

MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL:  Appointment of Melvin Trent Young, teacher, effective February 4, 2013 through May 22, 2013, replacing Thomas Wellman who resigned; re-appointment of Yuliana J. Johnson, teacher, effective February I, 2013 through February 28, 2013; transfer/appointment of Thomas Wellman, teacher, from Avoyelles High School, effective January 14, 2013 through May 22, 2013; and resignation of Thomas Wellman, teacher, effective January 23, 2013.

AVOYELLES PARISH PUPIL APPRAISAL CENTER: Appointment of Diane Tyler, (retired) Early Interventionist teacher, effective January 17, 2013 through May 22, 2013, replacing Kathy DeCuir who retired.

ADDENDUM(S)

2/5/2013

COTTONPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Appointment of Shauntelle Clark, special education paraprofessional (new position), effective February 1, 2013 (district funds.)

BUNKIE HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Craig J. Normand, teacher, effective February 4, 2013.

MARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: Resignation of Robert Miller, teacher, effective February 4, 2013.

12.         Upon motion  by Carlos  A. Mayeux, Jr., seconded  by Darrell  Wiley, the Board went into Executive  Session  for the purpose of discussing  pending  litigation  (Watts versus Avoyelles Parish School Board).   MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Upon motion by Van Kojis, seconded by Darrell Wiley, the Board reconvened in regular session at approximately 6:20p.m.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

A motion  was offered  by Freeman  Ford, seconded  by Carlos  A. Mayeux,  Jr., that the Board accept and approve  the workers' compensation settlement  (Watts  vs. Avoyelles  Parish School Board) as discussed  in Executive  Session. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

There being no further business, on motion by Darrell Wiley, seconded by Cindy Hill, the meeting was adjourned.

President                                                      Secretary-Treasurer